stark



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

P. STARK AT. K. A. GUTTER.

ATTACHMENT FOR ZITHERS.

No. 480,750. Patented Aug. 16, 1892.

l' 4 l LA WL' ness es; zz/enfers; M JW. @M5 ma @7 JMJ imma/fa f M0 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

P. STARK 8v K. A. GLTTER.

ATTACHMENT FOR ZITHERS.

Patented Aug. 16, 1892.

m. @Mm Jy@ fw UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PAUL STARK AND KARL AUGUST GUTTER, OF MARKNEUKIRCHEN, GERMANY.

ATTACHMENT TO ZITH ERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 480,750, dated August 16, 1892. Application led November 12,1891. Serial No.4.1l,756. (No model.)

T0 all whom t may concern:

Be it known that we, PAUL STARK and KARL AUGUST GTTER, subjects of the Emperor of Germany, residing at llflarkneukirchen, in the Empire of Germany, have invented a new and useful Device in Zithers for rendering only certain groups of strings adapted to be sounded, of which the following is a specilication.

The object of this invention is a device in zithers by means of which various groups of strings (chords, dro.) can be laid free to be sounded, so that when all strings are struck only the respective strings appertaining to the desired group are sounded.

In the annexed drawings, Figure l is a bottom View, Fig. 2 a cross-section, and Fig. 3 a longitudinal section, ot' the part of a Zither which is provided with the new'device.

This improved device is in the main constructed as follows: A quadrangular frame A is guided between pins or hooks C, secured in the Zither, and contains in parallel slots e several bars B, which are normally raised by the spiral springs d. The bottom surfaces of said bars B have cloth plates f stuck thereon at certain distances. By pressing down one of the bars B the cloth plates fthereof are caused to damp a number of the strings, so that only harmonically-sounding strings are left free. The different bars B being covered with cloth plates f in various divisions and the frame A being adjustable between its guide-pins C, a great variety ot chords or other tone groups can be produced. The

frame A can be fixed in its various positions by means of click-springs c, secured to the guide-pins C and adapted to catch into notches or indents h of the frame A.

What we claim is- In a device for rendering in Zithers only certain groups of strings adapted to be sounded, the combination of the frame A, having notches d, with the guide-pins C, bearing click-springs c, and the bars B, raised by springs CZ and provided with cloth plates f, as and for the purpose set forth.

PAUL STARK. KARL AUGUST GUTTER.

Witnesses:

THEoDoE STEUDEL, WILLY EOKERT. 

